American-Lebanese Professor As'ad Abukhalil: Just Like Zionism, Lebanese Nationalism Was Founded on Racism

The following are
excerpts from an interview with Lebanese-American political scientist
As'ad Abukhalil, which aired on New TV on January 13, 2010.

As'ad Abukhalil:
The attack on Syrians in Lebanon should be given great importance, but
this is part of Lebanese nationalism, which harms or kills the other,
if he's not white and European. Take, for example, the cases of suicide
among female foreign workers. They keep throwing themselves off balconies...
You have the attacks on Syrians throughout Lebanon, as well as the cruel
treatment of Palestinians...

Interviewer: With
regard to the Syrians, this is the result of years of...

As'ad Abukhalil:
No, the Syrian laborers suffered harassment even before the Syrian army
reached Beirut. This has to do with Lebanese racism. Lebanese nationalism
– just like Zionism – was founded on racism and contempt for others
– whether for Lebanese of other sects or for other Arabs.

Interviewer: Many
people will not like what you are saying.

As'ad Abukhalil:
I am not running for elections.

Interviewer: But
this is your view, and we respect it. We are a democracy, and you are
free to say whatever you like.

[...]

Do you anticipate a new
civil war in Lebanon?

As'ad Abukhalil:
It is inevitable, one way or another. The Lebanese people, with all
its sects, has never proven that it wants, or is capable of, true coexistence.
Coexistence in Lebanon is coexistence in blood, conflict, and civil
strife. The civil war in Lebanon was no coincidence.

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